Introduction. Sonnet 14 was composed in memory of the death of Catherine Thomason, the wife of the bookseller and collector George Thomason. Thomason collected more than 22,000 books and pamphlets printed between 1640 and 1660. This collection is preserved in the British Library and known as the Thomason Tracts. Milton intended the poem to comfort George Thomason and his eight children. Milton assures the reader that those who truly believe in God will enjoy eternal salvation. To illustrate this point, he evokes images from the Book of Revelation. When Milton published Sonnet 14 in 1673, readers could not identify the subject from the context of the poem. However, in the Trinity Manuscript the scratched out title reads:
On ye religious memorie of Mrs Catharine Thomason
my christian freind deceas'd 16 Decem. 1646
Faith and Love. In On Christian Doctrine 1.1, Milton states, "Christian doctrine is comprehended under two divisions: Faith, or the knowledge of God; and Love, or the worship of God."
dwell with God. Psalm 140:13. "the upright shall dwell in thy presence."
Of Death. Romans 7:24. "who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
from Life. From eternal life.
Thy Works and Alms. Acts 10:4. "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
trod. Buried underfoot.
golden rod. Athena's golden wand of office as described in Homer's Odyssey 16.172; see also the "golden reed" mentioned in Revelation 21:15.
Follow'd thee. In Revelation 14:13 the Holy Spirit says that the good works of the blessed will follow them into Heaven.
Theams. Musical term indicating plainsong or a contrapuntal piece. See OED2.
immortal streams. The river of life that flows from the throne of God in Heaven. See Revelation 22:1,17 and Psalms 36:8,9.